Zelenskyy Promises Law to Ensure Independence of Ukraine's Anti-Corruption Institutions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promises to submit a bill to parliament that will ensure ‘the strength of the rule of law’ and preserve ‘all norms for the independence of anti-corruption institutions.’

The Gaze reports on it, referring to his statement on social media.

"Of course, everyone has heard what people are saying these days — on social media, to each other, on the streets. It's not for nothing. We have analysed all the concerns, all the aspects of what needs to be changed and what needs to be activated.

I will propose a bill to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine that will be a response, that will ensure the strength of the rule of law. And there will be no Russian influence or interference in the activities of law enforcement agencies, and – very importantly – all norms for the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be in place. I am eagerly awaiting proposals from our group of law enforcement and anti-corruption leaders, from the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, on the norms that should work. This will be a presidential bill, and we will implement it as part of our strategy for the transformation of the state," said the Ukrainian leader.

According to Zelenskyy, at a recent meeting with the heads of law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, it was agreed that the heads of institutions would jointly propose an action plan and ‘concrete steps’ that could ‘strengthen the rule of law in Ukraine.’

This statement came amid searches of 19 employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine in various regions of the country on 21 July, after which the Verkhovna Rada passed a law making the NABU and SAPO dependent on the decisions of the Prosecutor General. On the evening of 22 July, Zelenskyy signed the document. 

Protests took place in many cities across Ukraine following the adoption of this legislative initiative.

As The Gaze reported earlier, the European Commission expects Ukraine to fully comply with the standards of the rule of law and the fight against corruption, and compromises on these issues are impossible.